How many of these do you need? It’s a good question to ask on your way to heaven!

I love the picture above, because it took me back to 1954 when I spent the summer with my cousin in California. My home at the time was the flat land of the Chicago area. It was more than a West Coast summer… it was joining my cousin’s Boy Scout troop! There were weekly troop meetings, camping in the mountains and the excitement of earning some cool badges to wear on my sash and impress my parents when I got home.

You may not know this, but there are 143 possible merit badges that a boy can earn in the Scouts. From Bird Watching to Bugling… from Digital Technology to Dog Care… from Farm Mechanics to Fingerprinting and Weather to Wood Carving.

 They say the easiest to earn is the Pets badge which only requires you to live with a dog in your home . The most difficult to earn? Some say it’s the Communication badge with includes vocal presentations, interviewing and writing specific contents.

I’m certain that every one of the 143 merit badges has added something of value to the lives of millions of Scouts over the years.

So my question to your is: How many ‘merit badges’ does it take to get to heaven? “Come on,” we say to God. “Don’t cut me any slack; I’m willing to do my part and put together an amazing  merit badge resume that You’d be impressed with.”

But alas, the only merit award He’s interested in is the ‘meritless grace of His Son’s death on the cross. When we arrive in heaven, the Father won’t be looking for a vest covered with hundreds of merit-worth activities we’ve done… only in a heart that has accepted the grace of God through His Son’s sacrifice.

“Grace,” according to the dictionary, is the unmerited favor of God toward mankind.

“God saved you by his grace when you believed.

And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.

Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done,

so none of us can boast about it.” Ephesians 2:8,9 NLT

Do what you can to add value to your life, but God’s ‘unmerited’  grace is  the only thing that will get you into heaven!